Brian's POV
Me and Kadey sat snuggled on the couch.
Man, I didn't realize how much I missed this.
How much I missed being with Kadey, being able to hug her and feel her body against mine.
I sighed with happiness.
I felt her grin against my chest.
"I remember that sigh." She murmured.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
She brings out the care free side of me.
And that's something I've been lacking for a while.
"Talk to me. I want to hear your voice. Make sure thus isn't some sort of fucked up dream." I murmured softly.
"What do you want to talk about?" She asked.
"Tell me about your dad. What happened after I left?" I asked her quietly.
She was silent for a moment.
"If it's too painful, we don't have to talk about it." I told her.
She shook her head and took in a deep breath.
"He was so pissed at you. God, he wanted to castrate you Brian." She said with a chuckle.
I couldn't help but adjust myself, my hand pressed over my precious parts.
She giggled and took another breath.
"He was convinced he was going to figure out where you guys would be playing, and that he'd ambush you. Took a long time before he finally let it go. But he never trusted or liked any guy that I brought home again." She said.
I hated the fact that i had caused Kadey so much pain, but I'm glad that no other guys got a good chance with her, as selfish as that may sound.
But Kadey was a daddy's girl through and through.
And if her father didn't approve, the guys never lasted very long.
"That was until my ex, Joe. He actually liked him. But my heart wasn't in it. And it wasn't fair to him. He's the one you ran into the last time you came by." She said quietly.
I couldn't help but stiffen at her words.
I wasn't angry at her, just at myself for letting her go.
I pulled her tighter against me.
"But, he was doing great. He was working and I was in school for psychology and therapy. And one day he was having really bad abdominal pain. And I practically dragged him to the hospital. He's from a generation that showing pain was weakness and under no circumstances did you go to the hospital." She said with a roll of her eyes.
I kissed her forehead and waited for her to continue.
"They ran a bunch of tests and did blood work. He did not like it at all. He wanted to go home and take Advil. But the results came back, stage four cancer. Contained in his liver and there wasn't really much they could do." She said quietly.
I felt my heart start to race.
How could I have left her when she needed me most?
"He went through with the chemotherapy, didn't want to lay down and die the easy way, as he liked to put it. He fought for a year and a half. But, the cancer won." She whispered.
I could feel all of the emotion she was trying to keep bottled up and away from me.
But I wasn't having it.
"He was a strong man. And he left this world knowing that he'd accomplished things. He creates his own practice from the ground up. He had people who loved and respected him. But most of all, he left knowing that his greatest accomplishment was knowing he'd raised a good woman. With a big heart and more kindness in her than anyone I've ever met. Do you have any idea what that must have meant for him?" I asked her.
She was shaking now and I could see the tears running down her face.
I wiped them away and kissed her face.
"You are his greatest accomplishment. And I know he loved you with every single breath in his body, Kadey." I told her.
"I could've done more. I could've made sure he got regular check ups with his doctor. I could've made sure he took better care of himself. I failed him, and I'm so sorry." She cried.
I turned her so she was now facing me.
"I don't ever want to hear you say that again, Karen Danielle Donovan. Do you hear me? You are the best daughter any man could've asked for. And your dad was so proud of you. Everyone knew it. Because they could all see it in his eyes every time he looked at you. " I said.
She just looked at me before throwing herself into my arms and burying her face in my chest.
"Thank you for being here." She murmured.
"You don't have to thank me. I'm just sorry I wasn't here before. Can you ever forgive me Kadey? For leaving you when you needed me most. It wasn't fair, and if I could take it back, I would." I said.
She looked at me and there was a faint smile on her face.
"No you wouldn't have. You wouldn't be the big rock star you are now if you hadn't." She said with a small smile.
I couldn't help but grin.
"I would have at least done things differently. I wouldn't have hurt you the way I did." I said.
She looked up at me.
"Brian, I forgave you a long time ago. I'm just glad you're here now." She said.
"And I'll always be here. I promise." I said firmly.
She nodded and laid her head back against my chest.
And like that, with the sounds of our shallow breathing echoing in the room, we both fell into a restful sleep.
